Abbott, HHS announce federal approval of emergency SNAP benefits

AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott last week announced that Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) will provide more than $168 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits to help Texans during the COVID-19 response.

HHS received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide the maximum, allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size.

The emergency allotments are currently authorized for the months of April and May and will affect all SNAP recipients in the state of Texas.

“As the state continues to respond to COVID-19, we are working closely with our agency partners to ensure families have access to nutritious meals,” said Governor Abbott. “I thank the U.S. Department of Agriculture for quickly granting this approval.

“These emergency benefits will give hundreds of thousands of Texans the additional support they need to provide for their families during this challenging time.”

SNAP recipients will see the additional amount on their Lone Star Card by April 15 for this month’s benefits, and by May 15 for next month’s benefits.

Disbursements will be staggered and started on April 9. SNAP recipients do not need to take any further action to receive the additional benefits.

“The additional SNAP food benefits will give families who are facing economic uncertainty security in knowing that they will continue to have access to food,” said HHS Access and Eligibility Deputy Executive Commissioner Wayne Salter. “SNAP has always been a safety net for households in their time of need. A pandemic will not stop our work to continue helping families purchase nutritious foods.”